Container fastening means



April 1, 1941. zALKlND 2,236,557

CONTAINER FASTENING MEANS Filed Oct. 23, 1935 INVENTOR i 9 $111190 Zalkznd ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNHTED "res " ATE i 3 Claims.

My invention relates to novel structural members, and more particularly to novel securing and reinforcing metallic members to be used in connection with collapsible and/or folding containers of sheet material; and to collapsible and/or.v

folding containers of sheet material using my novel structural members.

In my copending application Serial No. 693,841 filed October 16, 1933, of which the application is a continuation in part, reinforcing members having bayonet prongs cooperating with suitable slots are shown as means connecting several parts. of a filing drawer.

These means of securing the several parts of a filing drawer may be applied also to other parts of folding containers, as well as being applied to filing drawers in other novel ways.

Thus I may use this container, and as an ex-v ample of this, I show a collapsible filing container in which the rear panel is fastened into the tube portion by means of bayonet prongs cooperating with slots.

In my copending application Serial No. 693,841, above referred to, I have also shown a track member on the filing drawer for supporting the drawer on anti-friction members. I have found that I may modify these track members to include one of the portions of my prong and slot fastening means; and, by so combining different functions in the same part, eliminate parts which would otherwise be necessary.

One portion of my prong and slot fastening means may be attached in the factory to one panel of a folding and/or collapsible container;

and the other portion attached in the factory' to another part of panel which in its set up position is to be united with the aforesaid panel. The container may then be easily set up and the proper parts firmly united with each other by-the user.

Accordingly, objects of my invention are to provide a novel metallic fastening means for uniting parts of a folding and/or collapsible container; to combining said fastening means with other metallic members of the container performing other functions, and thereby to reduce manufacturing costs; and in the fastening means to provide a device that may be easily and quickly assembled at the point of use.

There are other objects of my invention which together with the foregoing will appear in the detailed description following in connection with the drawing.

In the drawing, I have illustrated my invention in relationship to a filing casing and a filing drawer, but it will be understood that my invention may be similarly applied to other folding and/or collapsible containers of sheet material. Thus it may be used with clothes cabinets, icecream containers, clothes hampers, and other similar structures.

My invention may be better explained by reference to the accompanying drawing, which forms part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 shows a blank of material for making a filing drawer with a modified form of my invention.

Figure 2 shows the back view of a drawer front which may be used with the blank of Figure 1.

Figure 3 shows in perspective one of the track members, for the blank of Figure 1, provided with my bayonet fastening device.

Figure 4 shows in perspective a vertical, back wall reinforcing member having a slot for co- -operating with the bayonet member of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows the blank of Figure 1, with its fittings and folded ready for shipment.

Figure 6 shows in perspective the blank of Figure 1 partially set up for assembly.

Figure 7 is an enlarged section on plane l'! of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged section on plane 8--8 of Figure 6.

In Figure 1, I have shown a blank of sheet material 2| havingthe parallel score lines 22, 23, 24, and 25 which define the edges of the bottom 26, the side walls 2'! and 2B and the side wall extensions 29 and 3D. The score 3| separates the bottom 26 from the rear wall 32 which has the rear wall extension 3-3 and 34 defined by the scores 35 and 36. Rear wall extension 33 has the slots 31 and extension 34 has the slots 38.

The front edge of the bottom wall 26 has a 'flap or extension 39 defined by the double score line 40.

Along the edges of the side walls and sidewall extensions, I may provide the U shaped tapes 4!, 42, 43, and 44 as a finish for the cut edges of the sheet material 2|.

In Figure 2 is shown the rear view of a drawer front preferably of similar construction to that shown in my copending application Serial No. 45,711 which matured into Patent No. 2,152,676 entitled Drawer and filed coincidently with this application.

This drawer front 45, has a metallic facing with the U shaped flanges 45, 41, 48, and 49. As shown, the flanges 46, ll, and 48 are pressed down in place on the filling 52, but the flange 43 is left partly open in order that the flap 39 of the blank 2| may be inserted. The flange 49, when clamped down into place, thus forms a means of uniting the metal faced front with the body member. Flange 46 has the slot 50 and flange 48 has the slot 5|.

In Figure 4, I have shown a metal channel 53 having the slot 54. Rear flaps 33 and 34 of Figure 1 are bent forward on their creases .35 and 36 respectively, so that they are superposed over the back member 32 and the flat tape 55 illustrated in Figure 6 is placed over the seam Where the two flaps join and the U shape tape 58 is placed over the cut edge forming the top of the back member 53 and a similar member 53' are then clamped over the side edgeswith the slot 54 of member 53 superposed over slot 38 of flap 34, and slot 54' of member 53' superposed over slot 31 of flap 33. The back flaps and the back are firmly united into a solid structure by the tapes 55 and 56 and the metallic vertical edge reinforcing members 53 and 53'. However, adhesive may be applied to the back flaps before they are folded over on to the back.

In Figure 3, I have shown a metallic member 51 to be applied to the side walls of the drawer to serve both as a track and as a means of uniting the side wall with the front and rear walls. Member 51 is provided with the inverted U shaped flange 58 which may serve as a track to cooperate with a wheel to be mounted on the casing as fully explained in my copending application Serial No. 693,841, before referred to. Member 51 also has the back flange 59 forming a U as the bottom of the member. The back flange 53 has the prongs 60 formed from the metal of the flange itself. At each end of the back flange is a tongue or bayonet 6| having a protruding lug or look 62.

The side flap 30 is turned back on the score line as illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 so that the flap lies on the outside of the side member 28. The member 51 is then placed over the edge of flap 30 so that the edge of the flap lies with the bottom U 59 as clearly shown in Figure '7. The member 51 is of such length and it is so placed on the flap 30 that the bayonets 6| protrude at each end of the side wall. The flap 30 with the member 51 is then forced down on to the side wall 28 so that the prongs 60 pierce the side wall and are clinched to it. This operation not only attaches the track to the side wall but also attaches the bayonets and holds the side wall flap in place. Before forcing down flap 30 upon the side wall, adhesive may be applied to aid in the attachment.

Flap 29 is attached to side wall 21 in a manner similar to that for attaching flap 30 to side wall 28. After this operation the front wall 45 and the rear wall 32 are folded on score lines and 3| respectively over the bottom panel 26 when the drawer is completed in knock down position for shipment shown in Figure 5.

To erect the drawer it is necessary only to fold back the front and rearwalls, and to bring the side walls up to a position at right angles to the bottom as shown in Figure 6. The front is then brought up so that the bayonets H at the front edge of the side register with slots 5| and 52. The bayonets are then forced through the slots which firmly unites the front and side walls. The back member 33 is then secured in a similar manner, when the drawer is ready for operation.

Although for purposes of illustration, I have shown one bayonet and cooperating slot, it will be obvious that any desired number may be used for securing a side wall with or without a track, to an end Wall. Moreover, this principle may be applied to walls which are not integral at any edge with the adjacent walls, similar bayonet and cooperating slots being used on all cooperating wall edges to engage adjacent walls to each other. Thus, for example either end wall may be entirely disconnected from adjacent walls and may be secured thereto at all adjoining edges to the side bottom walls by means of bayonets and cooperating slots.

' It has already been noted that member 51 serves as a track, as a means of uniting the side wall with the front and rear walls, and as a means of uniting the side wall flap with the side wall. It should also be noted, however, that when the drawer is opened or closed by pulling or pushing the handle 62 on the front wall, the force applied to the front wall is transmitted directly through the joint formed by the track members. Direct tension or compression is thus transmitted directly through the track members to the points of support, being the wheels or rollers applied to the side wall of the casing.

In Figures 1 to 7 inclusive, which have been just described, the bayonet member is shown as being an integral portion of a track member for supporting a filing drawer. It will be understood, however, that the bayonet member may be applied to the drawer in other ways. Thus the bayonet member may be part of a member acting as a side wall reinforcement.

Furthermore, while the bayonet member may be of substantially flat construction with 2. rectangular cross section, it will be understood that other shapes may be used. In Figures 1 to '7 the bayonets are of arcuate form, with corresponding shape for the slots with which the bayonets coact. Where the bayonets are made of relatively light material this shape is of particular advantage as it gives added strength to the bayonet.

It will be understood that the illustrations described are by way of example only and that I do not limit my invention to the particular forms and applications shown, as my invention may be widely modified and applied within the scope and meaning of the appended claims.

Now, having described my invention so that it may be readily understood by one skilled in the art, I claim:

1. A drawer comprising a body made from a piece of fibrous sheet material having sides and an end wall formed by slitting and folding the material on itself and an additional end wall opposite the first end wall foldably secured to said body, and reinforcing means for the free margins of said sides and ends, said reinforcing means comprising a metal frame fastened on each end and a flat metal strip for each side, each frame being channel-shaped in cross section and having slots in the side portions thereof opening through the inner face of the frame, each metal strip extending throughout a drawer side and having projecting resilient latches for engaging the slots in the frames on said ends.

2. A drawer comprising a body made from fibrous sheet material and having an end wall and sides formed by slitting and folding the material on itself and an additional end wall opposite the first end wall foldably secured to said body, flat mietal strips extending throughout the length of said sides and secured in the folds of said sides to project beyond the ends thereof, rigid reinforcing members channel-shaped in CIOSS 560510 said strips for engagement with cooperating means on said members for attaching the ends to the sides.

3. A drawer comprising a body made from a. piece of fibrous sheet material having sides and material on itself opposite the first and an additional end wall end wall foldably secured to i y, and reinforcing means f TI. Iniiiimm PHILIP ZALKIND. 

